“Much Improved Man-To-Man Coverage”
November 16th, 2015
An Xs and Os guru weighs in, and Sterling Moore talks to Joe.
The Bucs’ new dedicated lockdown cornerback, Sterling Moore, arrived in Tampa as a nickel corner telling everyone who would listen that he shouldn’t be pigeonholed and was in the hunt for a starting outside corner job.
Finally, and thankfully, Lovie Smith took him seriously.
Back in 2011, the former Patriots Director of Pro Personnel, some dude named Jason Licht, helped bring Moore to New England after the Raiders cut him. Moore made Patriots history (heck, it was NFL history) and went on to play in Dallas the past two seasons.
The Bucs signed the 25-year-old this spring. He moved into the starting lineup against the Giants and did a solid job that included an interception, the first by a Bucs cornerback this year. Yesterday, he locked down Dez Bryant.
“I’m settled into the starting role,” Moore said. “It’s been a while since I started on the outside, just takes time to get a feel for that and the way the games go. My game’s going well. Obviously, there are things I need to work on at times. But as long as I stay consistent, I think that’s the biggest thing in this league and the biggest thing we need on this team.
“I think that was everybody’s inclination that I was going to be inside [at nickel]. I think I showed everyone that I played so well outside in camp, and then I got switched back inside. You know, that forces your mindset to change. Inside, you have to know where your help is. Obviously, there’s a lot more field for guys to work with, you know, on the inside there’s two-way goes, using your leverage. Outside now, I like this role. I always have.
Unofficial Bucs chief Xs and Os guru Dave Moore, the former tight end, weighed in on the surging Bucs defense this morning on WDAE-AM 620. He credited “much improved man-to-man coverage” since the Bucs changed to Moore and rookie Jude Adjei-Barimah two games ago.
Joe can’t agree more. And it’s fun that Dallas headlines are calling out Bryant for being bested by Moore.
November 16th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Sterling stuck to Dez like Pablo sticks to a hot Pasco County Roof. Pablo was excited over the Buc victory over the Cowboys…..many of Pablo’s friends live in Texas. Pablo was excited when Hamus scored and put a frown on Herry Hones’ face”……
November 16th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Been calling for this dude to start since he got here!
November 16th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
“I stay consistent, I think that’s the biggest thing in this league and the biggest thing we need on this team.”
“Inside, you have to know where your help is.”
Riverboat Ronde knew this, and knew when he could gamble. Verner is a good player, and he does tackle well. Once they all start knowing each others roles, this D may take off for a run.
Never know what can happen here, and the W yesterday was game one of the playoff run hopefully. The Dline wasn’t great yesterday, but they played hard against a very good Oline, and stuffed the run game.
Pointing up, haven’t peaked yet.
November 16th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
The biggest change I see is that these two corner-backs are challenging receivers at the line of scrimmage. This disrupts the QB-WR timing and gives the D-line opportunities to pressure the passer. It all comes together when you can press at the line of scrimmage.
November 16th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Way to ball Moore!! Glad we picked this guy up this off-season!!
November 16th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
What I don’t understand is why it took so long to come up with this combination when the entire Bucs nation has been screaming about the CB play since game one. Ray Charles could see that the Jennings/Jenkins experiment was a failure long ago. This should have been fixed during the 1st quarter. Glad it’s fixed now but it took too long.
November 16th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
But wait? I thought incompetent Lovie Smith was to stupid/stubborn to play anything but Tampa two 🙂
November 16th, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Hey Joe, is Banks not as talented as everyone believed? I thought it was supposed to be our best corner that was developing into a pro bowl caliber player.